130 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



mellowed by passing between the hot-water pipes. The top 

 ventilators, running the whole length of the back of the house, 

 should be about 2 feet wide. 



I spoke of hot-water pipes. Although this is a cool house, 

 pipes are required for the exclusion of frost in severe weather. 

 Although the plants come from high latitudes, and places where 

 there is intense cold, we must not forget that at home they have 

 a natural " great coat " in a thick covering of snow. Growing 

 them in an artificial state, denuded of their natural protection, 

 we must guard against the action of frost on their exposed 

 bulbs and foliage. This must be done by means of hot water. 

 Have in your house four pipes, two flow and two return. 

 Do not grudge the extra cost of this amount of piping. You 

 might keep out the frost with half the quantity ; you would? 

 however, have to keep the pipes much hotter, thereby expending 

 more fuel, and at the same time causing an excessive amount- 

 of dryness in the atmosphere, most injurious to the plants. 

 With the extra piping, kept no hotter than you can bear your 

 hand upon, you will keep the required temperature without dry- 

 ness ; you will save fuel, and the wear and tear of your boiler, and 

 labour in stoking. The temperature of your house in winter 

 should not fall below 36° or rise above 45° to 50°. 



Far more difficult is it to keep your plants cool enough in 

 summer than warm enough in winter. Outside blinds are in- 

 dispensable. They should be of a substantial kind, yet of a make 

 to exclude as little light as possible. I use a speeial fabric sold 

 by Messrs. Williams, of Holloway. I know nothing like it, and 

 though they cost more in the first outlay they will wear out 

 those of the cheaper kinds. The blinds, fastened to rollers, 

 should run on iron rods, screwed to the roof, so that there should 

 be at least 9 inches of space between the shading and the glass, 

 thus causing a current of air which will keep the glass cool. Do 

 not be enticed into laying down a " pretty floor." Nothing is so 

 bad as ornamental tiles and " all that ilk." They radiate heat, 

 and, though nice to look at, are most injurious to the plants. 

 My floors are nothing but the refuse from the gasworks, called 

 in that part of the world " breeze," laid 4 inches thick on the 

 bare ground, and ordinary wood lattice running down the 

 middle for walking on. Such a floor, when damped, gives out 

 that moisture in which Orchids delight. A good galvanised 



